Paul Higham’s NFL Tips: Vikings @ Eagles Preview

CAN we finally have a team playing a Super Bowl at home? Well, the Vikings are just one win away from making NFL history and are slight favourites (1.62) of going into Philly and taking care of the Carson Wentz-less Eagles (2.35) and making that happen.

Late drama in both games got these two through – Stefon Diggs raced away to score the first post-season walk-off TD on the very last play to sink the Saints in perhaps the most dramatic ending to a game we’ve seen, while the Eagles were a Julio Jones slip away from losing against Atlanta at the death.

The best two teams in the NFC this season, neither have won a Super Bowl – the Eagles last played in the NFC title game a decade ago, while the Vikings have somewhat of an “always the bridesmaids” tag after losing five straight NFC Championship contests. They’ve also lost four Super Bowls. Philly are 3-0 in the play-offs against Minnesota.

Vikings @ Eagles (11.40pm)

A QB contest between Nick Foles and Case Keenum is almost beyond comprehension, as the two Rams rejects are the first two back-ups to contest a Championship games since the merger. Keenum has played well all season and struck late against the Saints – Foles didn’t throw a TD last week but had four in his previous play-off game and he’ll need that form this Sunday.

The teams are built in similar fashion on strong defensive units – Minnesota are the top overall defence in the league this season while Philadelphia are fourth, but top the run-stopping charts, which could be crucial as the Vikings are 12-0 when running backs Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon combine for 100 yards.

The big question is whether Foles and the Eagles offence can raise their game – they only needed 15 points last week to beat Atlanta but asking the defence to repeat that trick with receivers like Diggs and Adam Thielen around, while scoring more against the league’s best defence, is a tough job. They were underdogs last week though and rose to that challenge, can they defy the odds again?